Noise Barriers
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INDOT’s Goal for Noise Reduction What is Noise? INDOT’s goal for substantial noise Noise is defined as unwanted sound and can come from man-made and natural 2,000 vehicles per hour sounds twice as loud (+10 dB(A)) reduction is to provide at least a 7 sources. Sound levels are measured in decibels (dB) and typically range from 40 as 200 vehicles per hour. dB(A) reduction for first-row receivers to 100 dB. in the year the barrier is constructed. However, conflicts with adjacent Because human hearing is limited in detecting very high and low frequencies, properties may make it impossible to “A-weighting” is commonly applied to sound levels to better characterize their achieve substantial noise reduction at effects on humans. A-weighted sound levels are expressed as dB(A). all impacted receptors. Therefore, the noise reduction design goal for Indiana is 7 dB(A) for a majority (greater than Common Outdoor Common Indoor Traffic at 65 MPH sounds twice as loud (+10 dB(A)) Noise Levels as traffic at 30 MPH. 50 percent) of the first-row receivers. Noise Levels Noise Levels Decibels, dB(A) 110 Rock Band Highway Traffic Noise Barriers: Jet Flyover at 1150ft (350m) 105 What Causes Traffic Noise? 100 Inside Subway Train (NY) The level of highway traffic noise depends on three factors: • Can reduce the loudness of traffic noise by as much Gas Lawn Mower at 3ft (1m) 95 • Volume of traffic as one-half Diesel Truck at 50ft (15m) 90 Food Blender at 3ft (1m) • Do not completely block all traffic noise 85 • Speed of traffic Noise Barriers 80 Garbage Disposal at 3ft (1m) • Can be effective regardless of the material used • Number of multi-axle vehicles 75 Shouting at 10ft (3m) • Must be tall and long with no openings Gas Lawn Mower at 100ft (30m) As any of these factors increase, noise levels increase. Traffic noise can also be 70 Vacuum Cleaner at 10ft (3m) increased by defective mufflers and steep inclines that require truck engines to • Are most effective within 200 feet of a highway Commercial Area 65 Normal Speech at 3ft (1m) labor. Traffic noise can be decreased by distance, terrain, vegetation, or man- (usually the first row of homes) 60 made obstacles. • Are designed to be visually appealing 55 Large Business Office • Are designed to preserve aesthetic values and 50 Dishwasher in Next Room 45 scenic vistas 40 • Do not increase noise levels perceptibly on the 35 opposite side of a highway 30 Library • Substantially reduce noise levels for people living 25 next to highways 20 15 10 5 Threshhold of Hearing Sources: 0 U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration “Keeping the Noise Down” Highway Traffic Noise Barriers website Indiana citizens play an important role in shaping Because noise in our daily environment varies over time, and sustained noise levels http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/noisebarriers (such as a nearby highway) interfere with our daily activities to a greater extent Who Regulates Highway Noise? What is the Indiana Department of Transportation Traffic Noise Analysis Procedure decisions that affect their communities. than short, louder noises (such as a single car horn), traffic noise analyses typically Noise Impact Level? (2011) http://www.in.gov/indot Environmental Services Division consider average noise levels over a one-hour period. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has developed regulations regarding The Indiana Department of Transportation Change in Sound Level Perception noise analysis on federally funded highway projects, and INDOT has outlined its recognizes that providing information and eliciting 3 dB(A) Barely Perceptible implementation guidance in its Traffic Noise Policy. public input on transportation decisions is crucial 5 dB(A) Clearly Perceptible The policy establishes two criteria for identifying an impact resulting from a project: to fulfilling its mission to plan, build and maintain 10 dB(A) Twice as Loud (1) Ascertaining where future predicted noise levels would approach or exceed a set of Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC) established in the FHWA regulations. The volume and speed of vehicles traveling on a roadway significantly contribute Indiana Department of Transportation facilities that best meet Indiana’s needs. For outdoor uses in residential areas, the NAC is 67 dB(A); INDOT defines to overall noise levels. “approaching the NAC” as within 1 dB (66 dB(A)) for residential areas). 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N755 Therefore, locations where future noise levels are predicted to be 66 dB(A) or Indianapolis, IN 46204 higher are considered “impacted.” www.in.gov/indot (2) Ascertaining locations where noise levels are expected to increase by 15 dB(A) or more over existing levels. INDOT’s Goal for Noise Reduction What is Noise? INDOT’s goal for substantial noise Noise is defined as unwanted sound and can come from man-made and natural 2,000 vehicles per hour sounds twice as loud (+10 dB(A)) reduction is to provide at least a 7 sources. Sound levels are measured in decibels (dB) and typically range from 40 as 200 vehicles per hour. dB(A) reduction for first-row receivers to 100 dB. in the year the barrier is constructed. However, conflicts with adjacent Because human hearing is limited in detecting very high and low frequencies, properties may make it impossible to “A-weighting” is commonly applied to sound levels to better characterize their achieve substantial noise reduction at effects on humans. A-weighted sound levels are expressed as dB(A). all impacted receptors. Therefore, the noise reduction design goal for Indiana is 7 dB(A) for a majority (greater than Common Outdoor Common Indoor Traffic at 65 MPH sounds twice as loud (+10 dB(A)) Noise Levels as traffic at 30 MPH. 50 percent) of the first-row receivers. Noise Levels Noise Levels Decibels, dB(A) 110 Rock Band Highway Traffic Noise Barriers: Jet Flyover at 1150ft (350m) 105 What Causes Traffic Noise? 100 Inside Subway Train (NY) The level of highway traffic noise depends on three factors: • Can reduce the loudness of traffic noise by as much Gas Lawn Mower at 3ft (1m) 95 • Volume of traffic as one-half Diesel Truck at 50ft (15m) 90 Food Blender at 3ft (1m) • Do not completely block all traffic noise 85 • Speed of traffic Noise Barriers 80 Garbage Disposal at 3ft (1m) • Can be effective regardless of the material used • Number of multi-axle vehicles 75 Shouting at 10ft (3m) • Must be tall and long with no openings Gas Lawn Mower at 100ft (30m) As any of these factors increase, noise levels increase. Traffic noise can also be 70 Vacuum Cleaner at 10ft (3m) increased by defective mufflers and steep inclines that require truck engines to • Are most effective within 200 feet of a highway Commercial Area 65 Normal Speech at 3ft (1m) labor. Traffic noise can be decreased by distance, terrain, vegetation, or man- (usually the first row of homes) 60 made obstacles. • Are designed to be visually appealing 55 Large Business Office • Are designed to preserve aesthetic values and 50 Dishwasher in Next Room 45 scenic vistas 40 • Do not increase noise levels perceptibly on the 35 opposite side of a highway 30 Library • Substantially reduce noise levels for people living 25 next to highways 20 15 10 5 Threshhold of Hearing Sources: 0 U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration “Keeping the Noise Down” Highway Traffic Noise Barriers website Indiana citizens play an important role in shaping Because noise in our daily environment varies over time, and sustained noise levels http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/noise/noisebarriers (such as a nearby highway) interfere with our daily activities to a greater extent Who Regulates Highway Noise? What is the Indiana Department of Transportation Traffic Noise Analysis Procedure decisions that affect their communities. than short, louder noises (such as a single car horn), traffic noise analyses typically Noise Impact Level? (2011) http://www.in.gov/indot Environmental Services Division consider average noise levels over a one-hour period. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has developed regulations regarding The Indiana Department of Transportation Change in Sound Level Perception noise analysis on federally funded highway projects, and INDOT has outlined its recognizes that providing information and eliciting 3 dB(A) Barely Perceptible implementation guidance in its Traffic Noise Policy. public input on transportation decisions is crucial 5 dB(A) Clearly Perceptible The policy establishes two criteria for identifying an impact resulting from a project: to fulfilling its mission to plan, build and maintain 10 dB(A) Twice as Loud (1) Ascertaining where future predicted noise levels would approach or exceed a set of Noise Abatement Criteria (NAC) established in the FHWA regulations. The volume and speed of vehicles traveling on a roadway significantly contribute Indiana Department of Transportation facilities that best meet Indiana’s needs. For outdoor uses in residential areas, the NAC is 67 dB(A); INDOT defines to overall noise levels. “approaching the NAC” as within 1 dB (66 dB(A)) for residential areas). 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N755 Therefore, locations where future noise levels are predicted to be 66 dB(A) or Indianapolis, IN 46204 higher are considered “impacted.” www.in.gov/indot (2) Ascertaining locations where noise levels are expected to increase by 15 dB(A) or more over existing levels. INDOT’s Goal for Noise Reduction What is Noise? INDOT’s goal for substantial noise Noise is defined as unwanted sound and can come from man-made and natural 2,000 vehicles per hour sounds twice as loud (+10 dB(A)) reduction is to provide at least a 7 sources. Sound levels are measured in decibels (dB) and typically range from 40 as 200 vehicles per hour.